Cubs Smash Reds, Clinch Crown

Chicago wraps up NL Central with 6-0 win
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 29, 2007 6:11 AM CDT
Cubs Smash Reds, Clinch Crown
Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano, left, and teammate Carlos Zambrano celebrate after they defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 6-0, in a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, to clinch the National League central division title in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)   (Associated Press)

The Chicago Cubs confirmed their playoff berth in no uncertain terms yesterday, shutting out the Reds in Cincinnati as the Milwaukee Brewers fell to the Padres. Carlos Zambrano pitched seven innings for his 18th win, and is "thirsty and hungry" to head back to the playoffs with the Cubs for the first time since 2003, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The pro-Cubs crowd in Cincinnati cheered for the Padres whenever the scoreboard showed that San Diego was doing damage to the Brewers, but the Cubs ended up celebrating alone in the visitors' clubhouse long after their own game had ended. Manager Lou Pinella stopped just short of mentioning the Cubs' 99-year World-Series drought, but fingers are crossed in Chicago. (More MLB stories.)

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